Visitors No More

Dr. Mike Murphy
November 9, 2018

....the conclusion to The Visitors and More Than Just Visitors

As the pastor gave his sermon that Sunday morning, he could pick out each of the board members by their actions.  Each seemed anxious, always fidgeting, just not able to sit still that morning during the service. And as he watched each, he knew how they felt.  Since the meeting on Friday night, the Holy Spirit had been in his ear the whole time. Showing him ways to help the family that he otherwise would have never thought of, never would have began to imagine. Ways he could not wait to share with the board in their meeting after the morning service.

As the church board gathered, the pastor remembered the words that had driven them that Friday night, and opened the meeting asking the Lord if He would stand present during each minute of their meeting.  Helping all to know and to follow His will, and showing them with clarity the path He wanted them to follow for this family.

As the meeting started, the pastor could not believe the words he was hearing, as each board member was filled with excitement to share with all about what the Holy Spirit had shown them.  And as each began to speak, the pastor soon realized just how busy the Holy Spirit had been during those past couple of days. As the first board member spoke, he told all that the Holy Spirit had reminded him of recent events that had occured in his life.  An aunt of his has left to him a local house, a house he was intending to sell. As he laid in bed that Friday night, the Holy Spirit directed him to visit that house again. And as he looked at it closely, he realized that before it could be sold, it needed desperately to be updated, both inside and out.  Walking around the house led him to think. Would the father be willing to paint the house inside and out, and help with the landscaping, in exchange for being allowed to stay in the house with his two girls for the next few months?

As the first board member finished telling all about the house, another began to speak.  He owned a landscaping company, that was greatly in need of workers. He had several pending contracts, that could not be filled without those workers.  And if the father was willing to be one of his workers, not only would he receive a larger paycheck each week, but would have medical benefits for his daughters and himself.  And if he did stay at the house the other board member had mentioned, he would be more than willing to allow him to use the tools that would help in making the landscaping easier.

As this board member finished, another began to speak, reminding all that his family owned a clothing consignment shop, where they could get clothing for the girls to wear each day at practically no cost.  Good clothes, that each girl would feel comfortable in wearing, and would help each be proud of having. As he finished, another board member began to speak, letting the board know they would organize sitters from the church.  So when the father worked overtime, someone would always be there for the girls. Another board member followed, reminding the church they owned a food distribution center, and always had plenty of extra food that could be given to help the family eat wholesome and healthy meals each day.  And another board member offered a car they had, one they no longer had any use for. A car, that although far from new, was much more reliable than the one the family now had.

Before the meeting was done that Sunday, the church board amazingly realized how the pieces has fallen into place as soon as they began to entrust this situation in His hands.  Soon coming to realize, that long before this meeting, the Lord already had a plan and a purpose in place. A plan that had led the father and his daughters to the fast food restaurant across the street from their church.  A purpose that had brought this family into the doors of their church that Sunday morning. And a plan, that He already knew before the Lord had even brought each of them on the board to the church so many years ago. And as the Lord worked through them to bless this family, the pastor and the whole church board, suddenly began to realize just how much He was also blessing their church.

As the board told the father the plans the Lord had given them, they watched as the emotions overwhelmed him.  Realizing, that for the first time, in a long time, he could see the image of hope, and a future the Lord was giving him of where each day with that hope could take him.  The father poured himself into all the church had offered him, making sure he never took a single opportunity for granted. Always trying to give as much of himself, as had been given to him. And make the most of it he did!  Within three months, the father had worked so hard for the landscaping company, he was now a crew foreman. And three months later, his hard work had led him to the position of supervisor over three different crews. In six months the father had completely repainted the whole house they were allowed to live in.  And with his newfound landscaping experience, had all but changed the outside layout of the home. No longer was the house an eyesore, but was now the attraction of the local neighborhood. Six months later, as the house was finally about to be put on the market to sell, the father watched in amazement, as he became the buyer.  Able to put away enough for a down payment, and to establish his credit so he could now qualify for a loan. And each day, as several took turns sitting with his kids, everyone in the church began to look at each girl as if they were their very own. Finding themselves caring so much for this once tattered family, that they could no longer imagine their lives without them.

Of all they had seen, one thing that moved the church the most, was what they saw about four months after the Lord had first brought this family to their church doors.  On a rainy Sunday morning, near the end of services, they watched as the father walked forward, and gave his life to Christ. And a few years later, the church would also watch as both daughters each made that same walk.  If the rain had not been falling outside of the church on each of those three Sunday mornings, no one would have ever known the difference. As tears poured like rain from every eye inside the walls of that small church.

A few months after that board meeting, where the church followed the Lord’s plan to help this family, a local reporter came by one morning to visit the pastor.  She had heard the story about this family, and came to the pastor to confirm that the story was true. As the story filled the pages of the local paper, the pastor watched as other churches began to do the same.  Each church realizing, they could not help every family, but they could make a difference in the life of the family the Lord brought to their door. And with each church the Lord brought someone to, the town found itself struggling with the issues of society a little less.  A town that found itself with fewer public funds being needed, as each church fulfilled the call that was being given them. Before long, you could watch many of the local politicians taking credit for the issue. But each time the pastor heard another politician speak, he could not help but laugh just a little inside.  As he had been there from the start, and had seen the One who truly deserved all the credit.

Through the years, the Lord would send several families in need to that small church.  And with the arrival of each, the church did not look to see if they had their checkbook in hand.  But found themselves on their knees, looking first to see where the Lord was leading them. Knowing the plans He would show them, was far greater than the funds could ever amount to in the church’s bank account.  Finding themselves as a church that would one day not only stand in front of our Lord, being seen as a church reaching out with compassion, but one that would also been seen as a good steward of all He had entrusted them with.  A church that had grown to understand the real meaning of of the words Christ spoke. “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”(Matthew 25:40).

Many times through the years, the pastor would often chuckle as he heard the famous saying, “Charity begins at home”.  Since that first Sunday morning, when he saw a beat up, old car, pull into a parking spot in front of the church. And as he watched a struggling father and his two daughters walk through the doors of the church.  The pastor knew this statement was just not complete. He now knew charity, by its very nature, can never be forced, that it must be giving freely. He also now knew that charity could not be offered by simply throwing dollars at the problem. Because charity carried a responsibility on the giver to do more than just place a little money in the hand of someone who said they were in need. Charity held the hope and the accountability of seeking a new life for that person tomorrow, not just about making us feel good today. Since that faithful Sunday, the pastor had come to realize, charity ends at home, true charity begins with Christ.

“Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.”  Psalm 41:1-2

More Than Just Visitors

Dr. Mike Murphy
November 7, 2018

.....continued from The Visitors

What the Holy Spirit had shown him that night, the pastor knew required his immediate action.  Every ounce of his being was calling him to act now, to do today, what the Lord did not want him to wait to do tomorrow.  So before the pastor could even think of going to bed that Thursday night, he had already messaged the entire church board.  Calling all to an emergency meeting at the church the next evening. For a meeting to be called by the pastor on a Friday night, had many of the board members concerned.  Leaving each asking themselves, “Why could this not wait until after church on Sunday?” A few even took the time to contact the pastor, worried if everything was okay. He replied to each, that he and his wife were fine, but a situation that had been brought to their attention was in desperate need of the church’s action.  

Most of the board members arrived early that Friday evening, still concerned about what they were about to hear.  And as the board all gathered, the pastor begin to explain, in detail, the events of the night before. Events that weighed so heavy on his heart, that he could not imagine waiting another moment to address.

The board could hear something different in his voice.  A slight trembling with each word that made them aware of why the Lord had placed this on his heart, and called them all to the meeting that night.  And as they heard each word, their heart went out to the family. Leaving each wondering, what if the circumstances had been different. What if had been them, or someone from their family, that the pastor had meet for dinner that night before?

But as their hearts continued to sink, the words of a board member, who had been in the church a long time, snapped them all back into reality.  “Pastor, my family has been in this church many years, and we have seen many things. All of my life, I have been a member of this small church, and even though we are small, I have seen the Lord use this little church in amazing ways.  But I am sad to say, I have also seen some come to this church, and try to use it in ways the Lord did not have His hand in.”

“A couple of years before you and your wife came to this church, pastor, another family asked for our help.  A family, where the dad told us he was very sick and facing death. A family with three very young kids that the mom was struggling to just take care of.  A family that as they were about to lose everything, had their apartment broken into, and came home to see what little they did have taken from them. A family, that was about to face Christmas, without anything for their children to have under the tree.”

“The story about this family touched our church like no other ever had. And our church saw people giving to help this family like it never had before.  We moved them into a better apartment, one in a far safer area. And we paid the rent on that apartment for a full year, so the family would not have to worry about not having a home.  We paid for all their household bills, and we furnished that apartment, so the place might feel more like a home. And we went out of our way to also make sure each of those kids had a Christmas to remember, filling that apartment with more presents than all could begin to count.  That year, that Christmas, meant more to this church than any time I can ever remember. Cheer and goodwill became more than just words, but became an outpouring that filled this church. And soon had this church looking for other ways we could reach out, to also help others.”

“Then one day, right after Christmas, news about this family began to spread to everyone in our church.  It turned out, that the whole story, the whole family, was a fraud. The father was not really sick, and no one had broken into their apartment.  The father had pawned all they had, to play on the sympathy of others. And we soon learned that this family had not only scammed our church, but had also done the same with several other churches in the area.  Since then pastor, this church has been very apprehensive to help others in this type of situation. It is not that we do not want to help, we want nothing more than to help this family. It is that we also know the Lord wants us to be accountable.  Romans 14:12 tells us, ‘So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.’ If each of us will one day stand accountable before Him, pastor, then each one of us here must be accountable with the responsibility He is giving us today. And a big part of that responsibility is for us to use wisely each dollar this church has, as those funds are His, not ours.”

On hearing these words, you could watch the faces of the board change, and you could all but sense the apprehension many there now had to help this family.  Not wanting to find themselves in the same situation again, that the church had found itself several years before. Knowing where this was leading, the pastor began to speak, “I fully agree, we must be accountable with ever cent the Lord entrust this church with, and to make sure that each penny is spent wisely.  But because this church was burnt before, cannot stop our arms from ever reaching out for Him again. We cannot look at this situation the same as we did the last. As the call this situation now places on us, we must be accountable for also. Because to turn our backs on this family and not help, leaves us no better, and no more accountable to Him, than if we had unwisely spent His funds thinking we were helping a family who was only looking to scam us.”  

Within minutes, the board soon found itself divided, lines drawn with both sides only looking to further their own point.  But during this disagreement, another board member was seen raising his hand. “Pastor, may I speak for just a moment. I know we are fairly new to this church, and my family does not have the history in this church that so many here do.  But in thinking about this, are not we all going about this decision wrong? Before we decide what we need to do, should we not first ask God what He wants us to do? Before we give nothing, or give everything we can afford, should we not be calling on Him to guide us, to let us know exactly what we should spend, or if we should spend nothing at all?  If we truly believe that all this church has belongs to Him, then should we not be placing this first in His hands?”

The words brought silence, to not only the board, but also to the pastor. And without another word being said, they joined hands and began to pray. Asking the Lord to show them His will, and to give them the strength and the wisdom to carry through with that will, and how He wanted them to act in this situation.  And as the prayer closed, they agreed to each continue to pray, and to come together again after services on Sunday. Each letting the board know where the Lord was leading them, and trusting Him, with where He would soon guide them.

In the conclusion, and the final part of our story, we will look at where the Lord led this church, and see where He is leading all our churches today as we are called to reach out with helping hands to others.

“Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.”  Psalm 41:1-2

The Visitors

Dr. Mike Murphy
November 4, 2018

Many did not know how to react as they saw them coming toward the door.  They watched as the father and his two young kids got out of a beat up old car, and made their way to the entrance of the small church.  You could tell by looking at them, they had done their best the make themselves look presentable. The youngest girl wore a simple, but well worn shirt and pants that seemed to barely fit.  The oldest girl, wore a dress that appeared to be a size or two too big. And appeared in style, to be a decade or two too old. The father wore a pair of jeans, and a buttoned down shirt. And although neither had holes, you could quickly tell that the material had worn very thin.  As they exited the car, the father made sure their clothes were straightened, and warned both to be on their best behavior. And with a smile, told them to be friendly to all they met.

From the entry of the church, you could all but hear as the silence was speaking.  The eyes of several watched as the family approached. And as the family entered the doors, most just smiled, but said nothing.  It was not that they did not want to speak, it was that they did not know what to say. Finally, the pastor’s wife came up to greet them, and helped them to find a pew in the sanctuary.

During the services that Sunday, the members observed as this family joined them in singing every song.  Watching as the father helped the kids search the hymnal for the song they were about to sing. With each prayer, you could watch as the congregation sneaked a peek.  And with each peek, you could see both the father and the kids with their head bowed silently. And as the service ended, and the pastor shook everyone’s hand, you could see the smile on the father’s face as he told him how glad they were to be there.

For three straight Sundays, the congregation watched as this family came to visit.  And for three straight Sundays, they watched as this family had the same routine. Always dressed as well as they could, with what little it was obvious they had.  Always respectful of why they were there, and glad for the opportunity to be there each Sunday.

As the family began to leave the church that Sunday, the pastor took an extra moment to speak with them.  Asking if the family would have time for him to come by for a visit this week. The father, timidly lowered his head, and asked if it would be okay for them to met at the fast food restaurant across the street from the church instead.  Telling the pastor that he would love to have a moment to talk with him. Although the pastor found the request a little unusual, he agreed, and said that he and his wife would love to meet them for dinner that following Thursday night.

As the week flew by, the pastor’s wife reminded him of their dinner plans that Thursday night.  And as the sun began to set, the pastor and his wife found themselves entering that fast food restaurant.  They quickly ordered their meal, and sat down to join the family, who was already gathered at a table there.  As they sat to eat, they noticed the kids both had a small meal, but that the father sat at the table without any food in front of him.  

As they eat, the small talk began to flow.  And soon the pastor asked the father what local subdivision their house was in.  Quietly, the father asked the pastor if he would give him a moment, and he sent the kids to play on the gym equipment that the restaurant had built in the corner.  As soon as the kids were on their way, the father lowered his head and began to speak.

“Pastor, we do not live in a subdivision, or even a local apartment complex.  That old car you see us in each Sunday is where we call home. I know it is not much, and I so wish for the kid’s sake that we had more, but right now, I am very thankful to the Lord for it.”  As the pastor heard the words, he found himself speaking before he thought about what he was going to say next. “What happened? How did your family become homeless?” The pastor felt his wife punching his leg, only seconds before he found himself finishing the words.  Word he could not now take back.

“Pastor”, the father began to say, “I am sure I could give you greatest of sob stories, but the truth is, I was not always a very good father.  My wife mainly took care of the girls after she worked each day. And between daily bouts of drinking, I worked just enough to keep the family going.  We had a small house we rented a few miles down the street, and although we stayed behind on the bills, we somehow managed to get by. Then one day, I came home to find the girls all alone.  My wife had enough, and abandoned me and the kids. She left behind only a note, telling how she was tired of all of us, and we were nothing but a burden on her life. That night, as I longed more for the bottle than ever, I turned away from the bottle for the first time.  And I do not know how, but I found myself praying, not really even knowing God well enough to say a prayer to Him. But that night, He gave me strength, and I have not touched a bottle since.”

“I soon learned pastor, we were far more behind on the bills than I realized we were.  Farther enough behind, that within a couple of weeks, we lost the house. And with me having to now take care of the kids by myself, I soon was not able to keep my job, as it often required me to work nights.  Within two weeks, we had lost everything pastor. But you know what, in those two weeks the Lord began to show me that I already had everything. For the first time in my life, I began to realize what I had with the two kids, and just how much I really love them, and would do anything for them.  So now each day, I try my best to make their life a little better, even though I have so little to offer them.”

As he heard the words, the pastor fought back the tears as he asked his next question.  “If you do not mind me asking, where are you all living now?” The father slowly pointed to the parking lot, and answered, “This is now our home! The reason I wanted to met you here, is here is about as close to home as we have these days. The manager, at the restaurant here, is letting me work while the kids are in school.  And he is good enough, to help feed my girls many a night. And although I am saving every dime I can, raising kids, even in a car, is expensive. It seems like there is always something they need, something I was just not prepared for.  But although I cannot give them all I want to, the Lord is helping me to give them all I can. I try to always catch Goodwill on the days they are having their ninety-nine cent sales, so the girls always have something nice to wear to school each day.  The restaurant manager allows them to use the restroom to wash up each morning before they go to school, and he lets them study at a table in the restaurant each night. He has also been good enough to me to let me leave my car parked by the building, so that the kids will always know where it is, and provides as safe as possible a place for all of us to sleep each night.”

“I know you might be wondering also pastor, what brought us to your church?  Each Sunday morning we watched from across the street as so many smiling faces came into your church.  Faces that always seemed filled with hope. And the more I looked at those faces, the more I wanted that hope for my kids, and for me.”

For over two hours the pastor, his wife, and the father talked that night. And as they finally got ready to leave, they both found themselves saying a prayer for the father and his family.  And before she left the table, the pastor’s wife reached into her purse and pulled out all forty-three dollars that she had, forcing each dollar into the hands of the father.

Leaving that night, both the pastor and his wife knew that their story with this family was not about to end, but was near where the Lord was ready for it to begin.  And as both laid in bed that night, they both prayed for the right words to speak to their church. Words the Lord was calling them to. Words that would bring not only this family, but the needs of the family, into the family of their church.

In part two of our fictional story, we will look at how our churches today can reach out with all the compassion He is calling us to, and still hold themselves accountable with every dollar He has entrusted us with.

“Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.”  Psalm 41:1-2